Cruise on the Mekong

Luang Prabang was still in complete darkness when a tuk-tuk took us to the harbour. Despite the early hour, there was already a lively bustle in the streets — the “Giving of the alms” was in full swing, with monks in their bright orange robes walking through the city and receiving food donations from the population. An impressive spectacle.

Once on board, we were served an excellent breakfast. Then we met our tour guide and the 12 fellow travelers, who came from various countries.

Our boat was a beautifully restored longboat offering every imaginable comfort. There were tables with comfortable benches where meals could be enjoyed, and in the front and back areas, we had the option to settle comfortably on benches.

Drinks and snacks could be purchased anytime at the bar, and coffee was available free of charge throughout the trip.

We had booked the trip through “Shompoo Cruises,” which I can warmly recommend.

As the boat slowly cruised down the river, we leaned back relaxed and enjoyed the impressive landscape stretching along the mighty Mekong.

Our first stop was the Pak Ou Cave, located in a cliff above the Mekong. There, hundreds of Buddha statues can be admired. The atmosphere was almost mystical.

The journey continued along the river. At midday, we were treated to fabulous Laotian cuisine — there was meat, rice, vegetables, and various fruits — what a tasty feast.

During the trip, our guide told us more about the country’s sad history. During the Vietnam War, Laos was the most heavily bombed country in history, and unexploded ordnance still poses a danger to people today. Especially playing children are often still the victims. Our guide showed us numerous photos that painted a picture of the destruction and let us get to know a completely different Laos than the one we had known so far.

In the late afternoon, we docked in Pakbeng, a picturesque settlement on the banks of the Mekong. A tuk-tuk took us to our beautiful hotel.

Since we were already very hungry, we first visited our hotel’s restaurant. From the terrace, we had a breathtaking view of the Mekong, over which the sun was just setting. The scene looked almost like a painting.

Although it was already dark after dinner, we still wanted to cool off in the pool. At this late hour, we were the only ones there.

The cool water felt incredibly refreshing and was the perfect end to an exciting day. Tired and happy, we soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, the hotel gave us a packed breakfast, and shortly before 6 a.m., a tuk-tuk picked us up. Just 15 minutes later, we were back on our boat, enjoying the atmosphere on the river at this early hour.

We found a cozy spot in the front part of the boat, where we had a beautiful panoramic view.

After about two hours of sailing, we docked at a village where we gained insight into the traditional life of the people along the Mekong. The locals, including numerous children, greeted us warmly.

We strolled through the village, whose houses are built on stilts to protect them from flooding during the rainy season.

The village had neither running water nor electricity. Livestock moved freely among the people. Although the people here had to manage with very few possessions, they appeared content. Children played barefoot in the sand; everything seemed very peaceful.

I always find it very fascinating to gain insight into the lives of people who live a completely different life than we do. You realize that our life is not given, that it is pure chance where and under what circumstances we are born.

At noon, we had another wonderful meal on board.

After lunch, one of the fellow travelers took out his guitar and began to play and sing. Soon everyone joined in. Twelve people from five different countries sang classic old songs together. Nothing connects as much as music. The atmosphere on board was magical.

Finally, our guide also performed a Laotian folk song. It was great.

As the sun slowly sank lower, it was time to say goodbye to the Mekong and thus to Laos.

Around 5 p.m., the boat finally docked. We were taken by minibus to the border and shortly afterward exited Laos and re-entered Thailand. Somehow, everything now went way too fast.

Soon we were at our beautiful hotel in Chiang Kong. Since it was already quite late, we first cooled off in the pool, then set out to find a restaurant.

We walked along the pretty promenade by the Mekong but did not find a single restaurant where we could still get a table at that time.

So we returned to the hotel and had dinner there.

The next morning, we enjoyed a last wonderful, extensive breakfast buffet. From the hotel terrace where breakfast was served, we had a wonderful view over the Mekong and could take one last look at Laos.

After a relaxed morning by the pool, we made our way to the bus station.

There we bought coffee and snacks for the nearly three-hour bus ride.

At 3 p.m., our rather adventurous-looking bus finally left Chiang Kong. Through beautiful Thailand, it went to Chiang Rai.

The bus ride was surprisingly pleasant. We were so absorbed in the picturesque landscape that we barely noticed how fast the time passed.

In Chiang Rai, we took a tuk-tuk to the airport, where at around 11 p.m. our Thai Smile flight to Bangkok took off. This was one of the best flights of my life. Each of us had an entire row for ourselves, and there were drinks and snacks.

After a short fligjt we landed in Bangkok, where we spent the last night in an airport hotel.

Since the hotel had a beautiful pool area, we decided to swim one last round before our flight. It was wonderful.

Then it was time to head to the airport, where about three hours later, we began our nearly 14-hour journey home with a stopover in Zurich. A trip full of adventures, unique experiences, and unforgettable moments had come to an end. But I knew it would draw me back to Southeast Asia again and again for the rest of my life